Supplemental Effects of Phytase on Modulation of Mucosa-Associated Microbiota in the Jejunum and the Impacts on Nutrient Digestibility, Intestinal Morphology, and Bone Parameters in Broiler Chickens

This study aimed to determine supplemental effects of phytase on modulation of the mucosa-associated microbiota in the jejunum, intestinal morphology, nutrient digestibility, bone parameters, and growth performance of broiler chickens. Three hundred and sixty newly hatched broiler chickens (Ross 308) (44 ± 2 g BW) were randomly allotted in 6 treatments with 10 birds per cage based on a completely randomized design and fed for 27 d. The treatments consisted of one negative control (NC), diet formulated meeting the requirements suggested by Ross recommendations (2019), and without phytase supplementation. The other treatments consisted of a positive control diet (PC) formulated with 0.15% deficient Ca and P and split into 5 treatments with different phytase inclusion levels (0, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 FTU/kg feed). Titanium dioxide (0.4%) was added to feeds as an indigestible marker to measure apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients. On d 27, 3 birds were randomly selected from each cage and euthanized to collect samples for analyzing the mucosa-associated microbiota in the jejunum, oxidative stress status, AID, and bone parameters. Data were analyzed using the proc Mixed of SAS 9.4. Phytase supplementation tended to have a quadratic effect (p = 0.078) on the overall ADG (maximum: 41 g/d at 2833 FTU/kg of feed). Supplementation of phytase at 2,000 FTU/kg increased (p < 0.05) the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and reduced (p < 0.05) Pelomonas. Moreover, it tended to reduce Helicobacter (p = 0.085), Pseudomonas (p = 0.090) Sphingomonas (p = 0.071). Phytase supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the villus height and the AID of CP; and tended to increase (p = 0.086) the AID of P. Phytase supplementation increased (p < 0.05) breaking strength and P content in the tibia. In conclusion, phytase supplementation showed potential benefits on the modulation of the mucosa-associated microbiota in the jejunum by tending to reduce harmful bacteria (Pelomonas, Helicobacter, and Pseudomonas) and increase beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus). In addition, it showed positive effects increasing apparent ileal digestibility of CP and P, enhancing intestinal morphology (villus height), and improving the bone parameters (bone breaking strength, ash, and P content). Phytase supplementation at a range of 38 to 59 FTU/d or 600 to 950 FTU/kg of feed provided the most benefits related to nutrient digestibility.

PSXVI-4 Supplemental effects of increasing levels of soy protein concentrate replacing animal protein supplements on growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs

This study evaluated supplemental effects of increasing levels of soy protein concentrate (SPC) replacing animal protein supplements on growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs. Thirty-two newly weaned pigs (6.4 ± 0.4 kg BW) were allotted to 4 treatments in a RCBD with initial BW and sex as blocks and fed for 35 d in 3 phases (P1/2/3 for 10/12/13 d, respectively) following NRC (2012). Dietary treatments were SPC-0 (diet with fish meal 4/2/1%, poultry meal 10/8/4%, and blood plasma 4/2/1% for P1/2/3, respectively); SPC-1, SPC-2, and SPC-3 (SPC-0 with SPC replacing 1/3, 2/3, and 3/3 of animal protein supplements). Titanium dioxide (0.4%) was added to the diets as indigestible marker from d 30. Growth performance was recorded for each phase. Pigs were euthanized on d 35 to collect jejunal tissue to measure intestinal health, and ileal digesta to measure apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Overall, increasing levels of SPC replacing animal proteins reduced linearly (P &lt; 0.05) the BW (21.4 to 17.3 kg), ADG (431 to 312 g/d), and ADFI (551 to 390 g/d) of pigs. The G:F decreased linearly (P &lt; 0.05) on P1 (0.72 to 0.52). Increasing levels of SPC replacing animal proteins did not affect the AID of nutrients. Immunoglobulin A tended to increase (P = 0.099, 3.39 to 5.55 mg/mg of protein) when SPC supplemental levels were compared with the control group. Increasing levels of SPC replacing animal proteins did not affect the concentration of MDA, TNF-a, IL-8, protein carbonyl, and IgG and villus height, villus width, and crypt cells proliferation among treatments. Collectively, increasing level of SPC supplement did not negatively affect the intestinal health and digestibility of nutrients, whereas linearly reduced the growth performance.

PSXVI-7 Supplemental effects of Lactobacillus extract postbiotics in prevention of post-weaning diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic F18+ Escherichia coli in nursery pigs

This study determined the supplemental effects of Lactobacillus extract (LBE) postbiotics on intestinal health and prevention of postweaning diarrhea caused by F18+ Escherichia coli (ETEC) in nursery pigs. Sixty-four weaned pigs (6.6 ± 0.7 kg BW) were allotted in a RCBD to 4 dietary treatments (NC: no-challenge; PC: challenge/no-treat; BMD: challenge/bacitracin; LBE: challenge/LBE 0.2%) and fed diets for 28 d. At d 7, challenged groups were orally inoculated with ETEC (2.4 x 1010 CFU) and NC group received sterile solution. Growth performance was analyzed weekly and pigs were euthanized on d 28 to measure intestinal health. Data were analyzed using the SAS 9.4. During post-challenge period, PC tended to decrease (P = 0.067) ADG (373 to 284 g/d), whereas BMD increased (P &lt; 0.05) ADG (284 to 408 g/d); LBE tended to increase (P = 0.081) ADG (284 to 370 g/d). PC increased fecal score (P &lt; 0.05, 3.4 to 3.9) on d 14, whereas BMD decreased it (P &lt; 0.05, 3.9 to 3.5) on d 21. PC increased (P &lt; 0.05) protein carbonyl (0.76 to 1.12 nmol/mg protein), crypt cell proliferation (28 to 36%), and Helicobacter rodentium (0.4 to 3.7%). However, BMD decreased (P &lt; 0.05) crypt cell proliferation (36 to 32%) and Helicobacter spp. (15.0 to 1.4%); and increased (P &lt; 0.05) villus height (309 to 377 µm), Bifidobacterium boum (0.04 to 2.0%), Pelomonas spp. (1.5 to 8.5%), and Microbacterium ginsengisoli (0.5 to 3.0%). LBE reduced (P &lt; 0.05) crypt cell proliferation (36 to 27%) and Helicobacter rodentium (3.7 to 0.04%); and increased (P &lt; 0.05) Lactobacillus salivarius (0.3 to 4.1%) and Propionibacterium acnes (0.4 to 7.4%). Collectively, ETEC reduced growth performance by adversely affecting microbiota and intestinal health. BMD and LBE improved growth performance by enhancing intestinal health and increasing beneficial microbiota in ETEC challenged pigs.

PSXVI-6 Supplemental effects of phytase on bone parameters, intestinal health, nutrient digestibility and growth performance on broiler chickens

This study aimed to determine supplemental effects of phytase (VTR BIO-TECH, China) on bone parameters, jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota, intestinal morphology, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance of broiler chickens (Ross 308). Newly hatched broiler chickens (360, 44 ± 6 g BW) were randomly allotted in 6 treatments with 10 birds per cage based on CRD and fed for 27 d. Dietary treatments were the supplementation levels of phytase providing (0; 500; 1,000; 2,000; 4,000 FTU/kg feed) and 0.15% less Ca and 0.15% less P than the recommended requirements by ROSS 2019. Titanium dioxide (0.4%) was added to the diets as an indigestible marker to measure AID. On d 27, 3 birds were randomly selected from each cage and euthanized to collect jejunal mucosa and tissue to measure microbiota diversity and morphology, ileal digesta to measure AID, and left tibia to measure bone parameters. Data were analyzed using SAS. Phytase supplementation tended to increase overall ADG (P = 0.078; 39.7 to 42.2 g/d), whereas without affecting the overall ADFI and G:F. Phytase supplementation reduced (P &lt; 0.05) Pelomonas (10.01 to 2.64%) and tended to reduce Helicobacter (P = 0.085; 10.67 to 0.88%); Pseudomonas (P = 0.090; 2.02 to 0.31%); Sphingomonas (P = 0.071; 1.03 to 0.19%). Phytase supplementation increased (P &lt; 0.05) villus height (884 to 989 µm); the AID of CP (65.4 to 70.6%) and P (36.3 to 43.7%). Increasing phytase supplementation from 0 to 1,296 FTU/kg increased (P &lt; 0.05) breaking strength (184 to 213 N) and P content in the tibia (9.5 to 10.0%). In conclusion, phytase supplementation up to 4,000 FTU/kg feed showed benefits on intestinal health by reducing harmful bacteria in the jejunal mucosa, enhancing intestinal morphology and by increasing the AID of nutrients; and on the bone parameters by increasing the breaking strength and P content.

PSIV-22 Supplemental effects of dietary lysophospholipids in lactation diets on sow performance, milk composition, and intestinal health of piglets

Dietary lysophospholipids could enhance nutrient utilization through a structural change of enterocyte membrane with increasing permeability. The objective of this study was to determine supplemental effects of dietary lysophospholipids in lactation diets on sow performance, milk characteristics, and intestinal health of piglets. The 52 pregnant sows were allotted to 2 treatments in randomized complete block design with parity and BW as blocks at d 110 of pregnancy. The treatments were CON (no added lysophospholipids) and LPL (at 0.05% lysophospholipids; Lipidol-Ultra, Pathway Intermediates, Shrewsbury, UK). The lactation diets were formulated to meet or exceed nutrient requirements suggested by NRC (2012). Milk samples from 12 sows per treatment were collected to measure gross energy, protein, fat, fatty acid profile, and immunoglobulins (IgG and IgA) on d 1 and d 18 of lactation. Twelve piglets per treatment were euthanized on d 18 to collect tissues to measure tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, IgA, microbiota in jejunal and colonic mucosa, morphology and crypt cell proliferation rate in the jejunum. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Sows fed LPL tended to increase (P = 0.084) litter size (11.9 vs. 12.6) on d 18 of lactation and decrease (P = 0.079) ADFI (8.72 vs. 8.02 kg) during d 9 to d 18 of lactation. Sows fed LPL tended to increase (P = 0.092) IgG (1.14 vs. 1.94 g/L) in the milk. Sows fed LPL increased (P &lt; 0.05) crypt cell proliferation rate (39.38 vs. 40.94%) in the jejunum. Supplementation of lysophospholipids in lactation diet did not affect proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, and microbiota in jejunum and colon of piglets on d 18 of lactation. In conclusion, supplementation of dietary lysophopholipids improved productive performance and the intestinal cell proliferation of piglets with enhancing IgG concentration in the milk.